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When Is a Denier not a Denier?

Good advice to the AP, from the War Production Board, circa 1942. Image public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

One of these is a real addition to the AP Stylebook. Which do you think it is?

To describe those who don’t accept climate science or dispute the world is warming from man-made forces, use climate change doubters or those who reject mainstream climate science. Avoid use of skeptics or deniers.

Don’t refer to creationism, as creationists feel it makes them sound like fundamentalist loons. Instead, use intelligent design.

Scientists prefer to call those who reject heliocentrism geocentrists. Those who reject accepted astronomy say the term has the ring of self-centered arrogance, so prefer Copernicus doubters.

Yes, according to a new update to the Associated Press Stylebook, a climate change denier is merely a “climate change doubter,” or at most “someone who rejects mainstream science” (perfect for pithy headlines).

Scientists who consider themselves real skeptics–who debunk mysticism, ESP and other pseudoscience, such as those who are part of the Center for Skeptical Inquiry–complain that non-scientists who reject mainstream climate science have usurped the phrase skeptic. They say they aren’t skeptics because “proper skepticism promotes scientific inquiry, critical investigation and the use of reason in examining controversial and extraordinary claims.”

Since I previously applauded the statement by actual skeptics urging people not to misuse that proud label to refer to deniers, I’m pleased to see the AP taking heed of it here. But I wish that the AP had also heeded the skeptics’ further recommendation about terminology, instead of writing:

That group prefers the phrase “climate change deniers” for those who reject accepted global warming data and theory. But those who reject climate science say the phrase denier has the pejorative ring of Holocaust denier so The Associated Press prefers climate change doubter or someone who rejects mainstream science.”

I’ve previously rebutted the claim that the term “denial” is connected to the term “Holocaust denial,” and it’s hard to see why anyone should accede to the ill-founded complaint that “denial” connotes Holocaust denial.

The AP advises:

To describe those who don’t accept climate science or dispute the world is warming from man-made forces, use climate change doubters or those who reject mainstream climate science. Avoid use of skeptics or deniers.

(Emphasis in original.)

I fear “doubter” fails to capture the mendacity inherent in outright “rejection of mainstream science.” Calling it “denial” is accurate, and has a strong basis in scholarship and is even preferred by some deniers. If deniers find the term offensive, they’d do far better to change their behavior than complain about terminology, and the AP shouldn’t humor them by adopting a term that’s less clear.